Dodwell, Edward: A classical and topographical tour through Greece, during the years 1801, 1805, and 1806: in two volumes (Band 1) (London, 1819)

520 HOSPITALITY.

one half was kept by the host, and the other by the person whom
he had entertained. On future occasions they or their descend-
ants, by whom the s}rmbol was recognised, gave or received hos-
pitality on comparing the two tallies. I found some half astragals
of lead in Greece, which had probably served for this purpose.

The Romans cut a tessera in two as signs of hospitality.

Plautus, in his play called Paenulus,1 represents Hanno the Car-
thaginian, as retaining a symbol of hospitality reciprocally with
Antidamas of Calydon ; but Antidamas being dead, he addresses
himself to his son Agorastocles, and says :—

----------------" Si ita est, tesseram

Conferre, si vis, hospitalem—eccam attuli,"

Agorastocles answers:—

" Agedum hue ostende, est par probe, nam habeo domum."

To which Hanno :—

" 0 mi hospes, salve multum, nam mihi tuus pater
Pater tuus ergo hospes Antidamas fuit;
Ha?c mihi hospitalis tessera cum illo fuit."

Agorastocles proceeds :—

" Ergo hie apud me hospitium tibi praebebitur/'

" If this be the case, here is the tally of hospitality, which I have
brought; compare it if you please.—Shew it me ; it is indeed the
tally to that which I have at home :—My dear host, you are heartily
welcome; for j^our father Antidamas was my host; this was the
token of hospitality between him and me; and you shall therefore
be kindly received in my house/'

1 Act 5. sc. 2.